woolverton



(No Model.) 5 Sheets-Sheet 1'..

J. E. WOOLVERTON.

DEVICE FOR DISPLAYING ADVERTISEMENTS. No. 392,939. Patented Nov. 13,1888.

5 Sheets-Sheet 4.

(No Model.)

J. E. WOOLVERTON.

DEVICE FOR DISPLAYING ADVERTISEMENTS.-

Patentfa gl lyg 13, 1888.

N. PETERS. FholoLnmgnpmr. Washington. D. C.

(No Model.) 5 Sheets-Sheet 5.

J. E, WOOLVERTON.

- DEVICE FOR DISPLAYING ADVERTISEMENTS. No. 392,939.

Patented Nov. 13, 1888.

n. wz'rzns. Pitch-Lithographer. Walhi'ngion. o. c.

-UNITED STATES PATENT arrest JOHN E. WOOLVERTON, OF CINCINNATI, OHIO,ASSIGNOR OF TWO-THIRDS TO ORRIN OADY AND GEORGE W. SMITH. BOTH OF SAMEPLACE.

DEVICE FOR DISPLAYING ADVERTlSEMENTS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 392.939, dated November13, 1888.

Application filed May 28, 1888.

To aZZ whom it 72mg concern.-

Be it known that I, JOHN E. WOOLVERTON, a citizen of the United States,residing at Oineinnati, Hamilton county, State of Ohio, have invented anew and useful Device for Displaying Advertisements, of which thefollowing is a specification.

My invention consists, chiefly, in a clock the mechanism of whichreleases at intervals other independent mechanisms in such a manner asto display successively and alternately a number of advertisementsconnected therewith.

The object of my invention is to display advertisements as conspicuouslyas possible by :5 connecting them with a clock, which, when exposed in aprominent location, naturally attracts the attention of the public to ahigh degree and insures to the advertiser an extensive publication ofhis business.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a front view of the clock, showing onecentral and two lateral advertising-spaces. Fig. 2 shows in a front Viewthe inside of the case and the arrangement and location of themechanisms. Figs. 3 and 4 show in a front and side view, respectively,the mechanism operating the advertisements in the lateraladvertising-spaces, the front part of the frame being removed in Fig. 3.Fig. 5 is a partial rear view of the same, showing parts of therock-shaft. Fig. 6 is a front view of the mechanism operating the advertisements in the central space, the front part of the frame beingremoved. Fig. 7 is a side view of the same. Fig. 8 is an end view ofroller 20 and part of the ease in section. Fig. 9 shows one of theleaves in thecentral space and its rod detached. Figs. 10, 11, 12, and13 are diagrammatic side views of the tumbling frames, showing them indifferent to positions while tumbling.

12 is the clock-ease, of suitable shape and more or less ornamental.

13 is the dial, and 14 the mechanism operating the hands thereon.

15 15 are two lateral and 16 is a central opening in the front of thecase, closedby glass, behind which the advertisements aredisplayed.Those in the lateral spaces are fastened to a series of wire panels, A B0, each series connected to rock-shafts 18 18, operated bya mech- SerialNo. 275.292. ,Xo model.)

anism. 19, whereby the panels are alternately tilted front andrearwardly. The special construction of these panels will be more fullyexplained hereinafter. The advertisements in the central space aresecured to a roller. 20. which is turned by means of a pair of beveledwheels, .31, shaft 22, and a mechanism, .33.

The cloclemovement 14, which may be of any well-known construction, andthe other two movements, 19 and 23, may be driven by either springs orweights. In the present case weights have been preferred for themovements l9 and 23. The construction of the movements, in the main, isvery simple and does not differ very much from any ordinaryclookmovement. Many modifications are possible, and the arrangement ofthe different trains of wheels depends a good deal on the length of timethey are desired to run.

The following description illustrates the construction of the twomovements 19 and 23 as far as they are alike:

24 are ropes or chains passing over guidepulleys 25. carrying on one endthe necessary weights and fastened with their other ends to drums 26.The weights are not shown here. and are supposed to be outside of theciocxcase.

27 are gear-wheels fast with drums 26. and transfer the power of theweights over to a pinion, 28. From here, by means of another gearwheei.:39, on same shaft with pinion :8. another transfer takes place topinion 50 on shaft 31. On this same shaft is a geanwneel. 32, engaginginto a pinion, 33, on shaft 34. On the end of this shaft is an arm, 35.engaging with the pins of an escape-wheel. 36. of the clock-movement 14.

The weights of the mechanisms 19 and 33 tend to move them and all partsconnected with them continuously as long as thev are wound up, and woulddo so if escape wneei 36, engaging arms 35, did not arrest their continuons run. Escape-wheel 36 is moved by theclock-movement,anditsspeedisslowerthan the speed of the arms 35 on shaft34:. Every time the pins in escapewheel 36 clear the arms 35 movements19 and 23 are at liberty to move, and keep on going until arm 35 is anrested again bythe next pinin whoel36.wnich has meanwhile advanced intothe path of the formers rotation. During the time the two movements aregoing a change of the adver-' Bock-shafts 18 18 are.

tisements takes place.

tilted a half-revolution, or one hundred and eighty degrees, and roller20 is turned far enough to drop another leaf and lift the next onesufficiently to be ready to drop next.

The special construction used for tilting the rock-shaft is as follows,reference being had mainly to Figs. 2, 3, 4, and 5: On each end of arbor31 is a crank, 56, which is connected by a connecting-rod, 57, to arack, 58, properly guided and engaging with cog-wheels 59 on shafts 18.A movement of the rack in either direction turns shaft 18 just onehalfrevolution. The special construction for turning the roller 20 is asfollows, reference being had to Figs. 2, 6, and 7: On the end of shaft31 sits a bevel-wheel, 37, engaging in another wheel, 38, on uprightshaft 22. Another pair of bevel-wheels, 21one on shaft 22 and one on theshaft of roller 20-completcs the connection. Roller 20 has two flanges,39 39, which are perforated for the reception of rods 40, on which theadvertisements 41 are hung. These rods 40 are extended out some distancefrom the flange 39 on one side, so as to strike the heel 4.2 of abell-hammer, 43, thereby sounding a bell, 4-1, at every partialrevolution and calling the attention of the observer to the change ofadvertisements taking place at this moment.

4.5 is a spring fastened to the back of the case,pressing against thesheets on rods 10, and is intended to prevent the dropping of more thanone sheet at a time.

The advertisements in the lateral spaces are fastened to the two sidesof a series of frames or panels, A B G D, (see Fig. 2,) of which theuppermost frame of each series is connected to arock-shaft, 18. Theframes are connected by links cl d, e e, f f, g g, h h in such mannerthat the top bar of one frame is connected to the top bar of the nextlower frame by links d d, f f, h 71., and the lower bar of one frame isconnected to the lower bar of the next frame below by links a 0, gig,and so on. The further action of the rock-shaft is as follows, thedescription of one answering for both: Rock-shaft 18 turns, as shown bythe direction of the arrow, (see Fig. 10,) and the uppcrmost frame,being fastened thereto, is turned with it and lifts frame 13 and all theother frames hanging below. When the rockshaft has almost completed itshalf-turn and frame Ais in about a position as shown in Fig. 11, frame Btumbles, (see Fig. 12,) and when it reaches a vertical position frame 0tumbles, (see Fig. 13,) and when the lattcrhas tumbled the next onedrops, and so on all the way down. The effect of this tumbling is thechanging of the bottom bars, 2, 4t, (3, to be top bars, (see Figs. 2 to13,) and the exposure on the frames of the rear part of the panels withthe advertisements. The letters of the advertisements on one side of apanel must be in an inverted position relatively to the letters of theadvertisement on the other side. The mechanism actuating the rock-shaftis supposed to stop now fora certain time, its arm being arrested by theescape-wheel. After the release of arm 35 the mechanism begins to workagain, the rock-shaft turns back and turns frame A in the direction ofthe arrow, (see Fig. 13,) the frames are lifted and tumble again, asdescribed before, only in an opposite direction, and the other side ofthe panels with their advertisements are exposed again.

From the foregoing description it is plain that in the lateral spacestwo different advertisements are alternately exposed on one panel,whereas in the middle roll any convenient number-say 12 to 20--areexposed successively before they commence to repeat again. In theconstruction shown the advertisements in the middle space and the onesin the side panels change simultaneously, if desired, however they maychange independently. This effect is easily accomplished by having twodifferent escape-Wheels for each mechanism, or two sets of pins on theone wheel. The length of exposure is dependent on the spaces between thepins of the escape-wheel, and may be regulated accordingly. It may alsobe regulated by having more arms 35 on the respective arbors, or astar-shaped wheel.

I claim- 1. In adevice for displaying advertisements, the combination ofa clock-case having a dial and suitable openings to displayadvertisements, a revolving roller adapted to receive a number ofadvertising-sheets, and a series of tumbling frames, A B G D, havingadvertisements secured to them, as explained.

2. In a device for displaying advertisements, the combination of a clockmechanism,a mechanism to operate a rock-shaft,tumbling frames adapted toreceive and exhibit cards connected thereto, and an escapemeutinterposed between the two mechanisms, for the purpose explained.

3. In combination with a suitable motive mechanism, a rock-shaft and aseries of tumbling frames adapted to receive and exhibit cards connectedto the latter, as explained.

4. In a device for displaying advertisements, the combination, in acase, of a rock-shaft, a series of tumbling frames adapted to receiveadvertisements connected thereto, and a roller intended for the samepurpose, as explained.

5. In a device for displaying advertisements, the combination of aclock-ease having a dial and suitable openings to displayadvertisements, a clock mechanism, a revolving roller adapted to receiveadvertisements, a mechanism and suitable connection between the two tooperate the roller, a rock-shaft, a series of tumbling wire framesadapted to receive and exhibit cards connected thereto, a mechanism tooperate the rock-shaft, an escapement interposed between the clockmechanism and the other two mechanisms to regulate their motion, aspring, 15, behind roller 20, and an alarm-bell operated by the latter,as and for 7. The tumbling wire frames, consisting of i the purposeexplained. a number of rectangular frames adapted to 6.Inadevicefordisplaying advertisements, receive and exhibitadvertisements, being the combination, in a case, of a clock mechcloselyconnected with each other by links 5 anism, 14, mechanisms 19 and 23,located adpassing from top to top and bottom to bottom jacent to theformer, an escapement intercross-bar of each frame, as shown, and forthe 20 posed between the clock mechanism and the purpose described.

two latter, a rock-shaft, 18, receiving an in- In testimony of whichinventionI hereunto termittent reciprocatingrotary motion from set myhand.

10 mechanism 19 a series of tumbliu wire frames, A B O D, suspended fromsaid rock- JOHN OQLVERTON' shaft and adapted to receive and exhibit ad-\Vitnesses: vertisements, and a roller, 20, operated by \VALTER soo'rT,

mechanism 23, as shown and described. ORRIN CADY.

